Ship maneuvering method



i1 114-242. OR 3,345,911 SR 702560 Oct. 10,1967

SHIP MANEUVERING METHOD Filed Aug. 2, 1966 1'. STANWICK 3,345,971

J5EE

INVENTOR TAD STANWICK MWW ATTORNEYS Oct. 10,1967 T. STANWICK 3,345,971

SHIP MANEUVERING METHOD Filed Aug. 2, 1966 2 Sheets-heet 2 m f g Q '5, 1i 9 T i 2 (J O O S v ,l 8 2 O i i r g #3 3 I km 1 J 0 it v o l) 2 a 3/ E l V :3 i l ff 3 L 0 N i g a) NN K [I] k 9 a mvsmon 8 o g g TAD STANWICK' 22$ 0 v 9 v 7 8| Mn? P X If ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,345,971 SHIP MANEUVERTNG METHOD Tad Stanwich, Washington, D.C., assignor to The Stanwick Corporation, Washington, D.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 569,670 4 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) ABSTRACT UP THE DTSCLOSURE This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants application Ser. No. 492,097, entitled Method and Apparatus for Maneuvering Ships and filed Oct. 1, 1965, now Patent No. 3,322,091.

The present invention provide s fgg ggge in,mgneuvering ihips vyith tpgs. In operation, the tug comes alongside and extends the suctorial attachment, pushing it up against the ships hull. The attachment is made by suction action and the position of attachment fixed or maintained by a pump unit control, which maintains the vacuum against leakage. The ease of attachment resulting from use of the present invention not only saves time, but also reduces the number of personnel required both on the ship and on the tug for line handling. Also,,maneuyering..ofethesship i s g9 ntrolledentiggly igp rp thg pg. Finally, release of the suctorial attachment from the hull of the ship is easily and rapidly accomplished by simply relieving the air vacuum inside the suction cup.

' parent application in that the vacuum is drawn in the suctorial attachment or cup by means of a motor mounted upon the attachment itselfand powered through conventional electrical convection with the ship being maneuvered. Thus, there has been eliminated the complex and expensive linkage required for drawing the vacuum from the suctorial attachment and through the extensible boom upon which it is supported. Also, according to the present invention, a fuel line conduit traverses the suctorial attachment for direct connection to a corresponding con- 0 duit in the hull of the ship being maneuvered. Thus, the suctorial attachment provides unique maneuvering and holding capabilities during re-fueling operations.

In operation, the tug applies the maneuvering force to the ship through the suctorial cup, which can be mounted on thetug either forward or aft. Obviously, duplicate installatiohs may provide even more flexibility in operation. The present invention also provides the advantage of the tug being able to work in confined areas without abrasive contact with the ships hull. For close-in rnaneuvering, the tug can at all times maintain a stand-off position and maneuver clear of the ship, preventing getting caught close-in, with the resulting safety hazard. Since attachment of the suctorial cup to the ships structure is close to the water line, the present invention ap- 6 plies the maneuvering forces at a flatter angle for more eflfective use of the tugs thrust. This, in contrast, to the situation present when lines are used in close-in" work, introducing considerable lift to the tug by the rope connection to the deck bolster.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and suggested device for improved operation in ship maneuvering by tugs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for ease in maneuvering of a ship with the use of a method and suggested apparatus employing suction as a means of providing attachment between ships and tugs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a suctorial attachment to be mounted upon a fuel supply ship for use in refueling operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for improved ship maneuvering by tugs with the use of a suctorial attachment enabling the tugs to work close-in in confined areas without abrasive contact with the ships hull.

Still further object of the present invention is to provide improved operation in ship maneuvering by tugs with the use of a suctorial attachment characterized by its capability of being powered from the ship being maneuvered and controllable by ship or tug for release from the hull of the ship, by simply relieving the air vacuum inside the suction cup.

Yet other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates generally the method of employing the present invention in maneuvering ships:

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating in general a suggested suctorial attachment for use in the method of ship maneuvering of the present invention, the

0 vacuum-drawing motor being mounted on the attachment and being powered through a conventional Waterproof outlet in the ships hull;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the rim of a modified suctorial attachment, serrated to prevent slippage.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of a modified suctorial cup medially supporting a re-fueling conduit traversing the ships hull for re-fueling operation; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective of tug and ship operating according to the FIG. 4 modification during refueling.

The method of employing the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the suctorial attachment, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is positioned against the hull 12. of ship 14 with boom 16 of tug 18, to which suctorial attachment 10 is mounted. The fix of suctorial cup or attachment 16 against hull 12 is maintained by a pump unit mounted upon attachment ill and electrically powered via wire 102 extending to outlet 104 in the ships hull 12. Similarly, release of suctorial attachment 10 is accomplished merely by relieving the air vacuum within suction cup 20 of attachment it).

As generally illustrated in FIG. 2, suction cup 20 is pivotably mounted to boom 16 about axis 22 with the use of support 24 through which pin 26 passes. As tip member 28 of boom 16 is attached to pin 26, pivotability about axis 22 is assured.

Boom 16 may be characterized as being of the telescoping tubular steel type, spring loaded. Within corrugated section 30 of boom 16 is located tension/compression spring 32 which is wrapped around the center piece 23 of boom 16. Lowering and raising of boom 16 is accomplished with the use of hydraulic cylinder 36 and its associated pumping unit 38, all located within housing 40 of tug 18.

In general, the supporting structure for suctorial attachment It as envisioned by the present invention, may be similar to that used in aircraft landing gears, such structure being light weight for ease in positioning and capable of withstanding high dynamic loads. Techniques for positioning, extending, retracting, as well as shock mitigation, have been highly developed by the aircraft 3 industry and certainly suitable for application to boom 16 and its related supporting structure.

Vacuum-drawing assemply 100, supported by bracket 106, maintains the vacuum of cup 28 against loss. Air line 108 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as extending through cup 20, at juncture 48. Of course, appropriate controls to properly vent the system and release suctorial cup 20 may be employed, as desired, such as vacuum tank 54 A suitable control switch 110 may be connected to housing 40 aboard tug 18 via wire 112 extending through boom 16. Manifestly, an identical pumping assembly control switch may be mounted upon the ship itself for simultaneous or emergency control purposes.

As seen in FIG. 2, suction cup 20 of attachment 10 is in the form of a dished head, rimmed with a rubbertype seal or skirt 60 for maintaining a proper seal on hull 12 of ship 14. As skirt 60 is compliant, it will accept the irregularities in the plating of ship 14, as well as variations in hull contour, while still providing sealing action. Although the shape of cup 20 is illustrated as being circular, rectangular or other desired cinfigurations may obviously be employed.

The loads which may be applied through suctorial attachment 10 are, of course, a function of the ditferential between ambient pressure and the reduced pressure inside cup 20. For example, a differential of 7 psi. below atmospheric will produce a loading of approximately 1,000 lbs../ft. or 27,000 lbs. for a six foot diameter. This load would be distributed into the ships hull around the rim and for a six foot diameter with a rim length of about 200 inches, the unit loading being approximately 135 lbs. per inch.

In the application of maneuvering loads applied by tug 18 to ship 14, it is necessary to provide for loads applied both normal to the hull as well as parallel. Of particular importance is a load applied parallel to the hull, which introduces shear between hull 12 and suctorial cup 20. There are, of course, several ways to counter any tendency of the suctorial cup 20 to slip from hull 12. As seen in FIG. 3, rim or skirt 60 may be serrated so that the annular groove-s 114 will develop considerable shear on the rough surface of hull 12. For an attachment 6 feet in diameter having a rim four inches in width, serrations inch deep and inch in width may be employed, for example.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, modified cup 20' medially supports fuel conduit 116 which extends from tug 18 through the ships hull 12. Fuel conduit 116 is then coupled conventionally at 118 within the ships hold to ship fuel re-supply conduit 120. Cup 20 so modified eliminates many of the hazards of refueling at sea while enabling a quick disconnect in the event that enemy submarines or aircraft are detected. Cup 20 provides a positive securement of fuel conduit 116 to coupling 118 without the use of the conventional, encumbering and ditficultly released spring lines.

Manifestly, variation in maneuvering techniques and apparatus for creating suction may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Method for maneuvering a first vessel with respect .10 a'se doi'ilfiissel,"co111prising' the steps of:

(A) ditferentiating pressure by suction action between an integral suction portion of said second vessel which is in contact with said first vessel and ambient so as to secure said integral portion of said first vessel;

(B) limiting movement of said integral portion of said second vessel with respect to said first vessel, so that movements of said second vessel are translated to said first vessel; and

(C) flowing re-supplied materials from said second ship through said suction portion and into said first ship.

2. Apparatus for maneuvering ships, comprising:

(A) a suctorial cup for engagement against the hull of a first vessel;

(B) a boom assembly supporting said suctorial cup mounted upon a second vessel;

(C) suction assembly means located on said suctorial cup for creating a differential in pressure between the interior of said cup and atmosphere at preselected times; and

(D) a fuel conduit extending medially through said cup.

3. Method as in claim 1, including deriving power for said differentiating pressure from said first vessel.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said suction cup means includes:

(i) a pump and air lines connecting said pump with the interior of said cup; (ii) an electrical power outlet adapted for connection to electrical socket for powering said pump.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,322,091 5/1967 Stanwick 114235 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. METHOD FOR MANEUVERING A FIRST VESSEL WITH RESPECT TO A SECOND VESSEL, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) DIFFERENTIATING PRESSURE BY SUCTION ACTION BETWEEN AN INTEGRAL SUCTION PORTION OF SAID SECOND VESSEL WHICH IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID FIRST VESSEL AND AMBIENT SO AS TO SECURE SAID INTEGRAL PORTION OF SAID FIRST VESSEL; (B) LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID INTEGRAL PORTION OF SAID SECOND VESSEL WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST VESSEL, SO THAT MOVEMENTS OF SAID SECOND VESSEL ARE TRANSLATED TO SAID FIRST VESSEL; AND (C) FLOWING RE-SUPPLIED MATERIALS FROM SAID SECOND SHIP THROUGH SAID SUCTION PORTION INTO SAID FIRST SHIP. 